Dell unveils Eee PC and MacBook Air rivals

Dell’s foray into the crowded mini-notebook market has been further detailed, with the company recently revealing (or leaking) the specs and pricing of its own low-cost alternatives. Dubbed the new “Dell E”, the lineup comprises of the 8.9-inch E and 12.1-inch E Slim which will target two different markets.

The 8.9-inch model is clearly meant to take on the Eee PC 900 series, whereas the 12.1-inch E Slim will supposedly target the MacBook Air and X300 at a mere 0.8-inch thick. Spec-wise the base Dell E model sports an Intel Atom 1.6GHz processor, 512MB RAM, 4GB flash storage, 802.11b/g compatibility, and your choice of Linux or Windows XP. Two higher-end models, the E Video and E Video+, will get you additional RAM, larger flash storage, webcams and Bluetooth. Dell says the E notebook will start shipping in August priced as low as $299.

As for the company’s entry-level MacBook Air rival, the E Slim series, features apparently include a 1.3 or 1.6GHz Atom CPU, 8GB Flash or 40GB HDD storage, 512MB or 1GB RAM, Wi-Fi, and WiMAX support. No pricing details are available for this model, though. Interestingly, Dell is reportedly adding to the notebooks a BlackTop instant-on Linux OS that is purportedly similar to Asus’ Splashtop.